145/65R16 vs 135/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/65R16 | 135/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.4" | 23.4" | +0.1 % |
| Sidewall | 3.71" | 3.72" | +0.3 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 135 mm | -6.9 % |
| Circumference | 73.6" | 73.6" | +0.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 861 | 860 | -0.1 % |
| Axle height | 11.71" | 11.72" | +0.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4–5.5" | 3.5–5" | overlap 4–5" |
Both are approved on a rim 4" to 5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 145/65R16. Fit 135/70R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.0 mph | +0.0 |
| 50 mph | 50.0 mph | +0.0 |
| 70 mph | 70.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 90 mph | 90.1 mph | +0.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,008 on the road, so it under-counts by 8. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1005 times a minute, the second 1004.